Health chiefs in the north west have suspended all visiting at hospitals and care facilities in the Western trust due to rising Covid-19 rates.
An urgent appeal has also been issued to all off-duty medical staff to make themselves available for work at emergency departments and hospitals across the region due to increasing patient pressure.
A spokesman for the Western trust said the decision to suspend all visiting was due to pressure on the health service and “rapidly rising” Covid-19 transmission rates. The suspension will be reviewed later today.
The spokesman said: “We have assessed all elements of risk and in order to protect patients, visitors and staff, the decision has been made to temporarily suspend visiting on all sites and facilities within the Western trust.”
The trust acknowledged that this was a difficult time for the public but asked people to cooperate with health workers and to respect staff and any guidance given.
“You can continue to arrange a ‘virtual visit’ with your relatives or friend on a smartphone or tablet. Our hospitals have access to free wi-fi and our staff can help set this up. Please be patient. Our staff will have to prioritise clinical work and patient care at this very busy time.”
The spokesman said the appeal for staff to “temporarily” come forward was made to support colleagues.
“We are extremely busy across our emergency departments and throughout our hospitals. Maintaining our bed capacity across all our hospital settings in Altnagelvin and South West Acute Hospital is crucial and the ability to do so is dependent on creating a pool of available staff,” he said.
Any medical workers - particularly nurses, nursing and care assistants, support service staff and housekeepers - who are available are being urged to contact t heir wards or departments. Bank staff are asked to contact the “banking office” directly.
